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Here are ten brand new recurring characters that have made New Who such a glittering and enduring success over the past decade.

10. Jackie Tyler

‘If we end up on Mars, I’m gonna kill you.’

She escaped the Daleks and wasn’t upgraded by the Cybermen.

She saved the Doctor with a flask of tea and yet wasn’t allowed to fly the Tardis. She took a shine to Elton, married her dead husband and won our hearts as Doctor Who’s first yummy mummy.

All hail Camille Coduri as Rose’s widowed mum Jackie Tyler.

9. Commander Strax

‘This planet is now property of the Sontaran Empire. Surrender your women and intellectuals.’

Commander Strax (Picture: BBC)

Everyone’s favourite comedy Sontaran Strax (played by Dan Starkey) never really could tell the difference between boys and girls and was deliciously bellicose despite his job as a nurse.

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8. Harriet Jones

‘Yes. We know who you are.’

A complex woman, Penelope Wilton’s Harriet Jones worked with the Doctor to beat the Slitheen as an MP but also destroyed the Sycorax in cold blood as PM.

But she came good in the end, dying as she protected the universe from the Daleks. Don’t you think she looks tired?

7. Wilf Mott

‘But she was better with you!’

Wilf Mott (Picture: BBC)

The loveable Bernard Cribbins gave us Wilfred Mott, Donna’s stargazing grandpa. But his big heart caused the death of Tennant’s 10th Doctor.

6. Kate Stewart

‘Tell me, since when did science run the military, Kate?’

Kate Stewart (Picture: BBC)

The Brigadier’s daughter is a breath of fresh air at UNIT.

Jemma Redgrave plays a scientist in charge of a military organisation who has both grit and grace. The Doctor really likes and respects her.

5. Amelia Pond

‘If we had got married our kids would have had very very red hair.’

Amy Pond (Picture: BBC)

Amy Pond divides fans.

Karen Gillan was brilliant and has gone on to great things but let’s not forget her young cousin Caitlin Blackwood who played the young Amelia.

She ate fish fingers and custard with the Doctor and furnished us all with one of the most adorable performances in 50 years of Doctor Who history.

4. Donna Noble

‘For one moment, one shining moment, she was the most important woman in the whole wide universe.’

Donna Noble (Picture: BBC)

Every Whovian heart sank when it was announced that Catherine Tate would appear in Doctor Who. The one-off Runaway Bride was bad enough.

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And then she came back as a companion. Quelle horreur. But we came to love Donna Noble and anyone who didn’t weep when she had to have her mind wiped clean after the Doctordonna meta-crisis deserves to be sent to the Shadow Proclamation.

3. Captain Jack Harkness

‘You’re a fixed point in time and space, you’re a fact. That’s never meant to happen. Even the Tardis reacted against you, tried to shake you off; flew all the way to the end of the universe just to get rid of you.’

Captain Jack (Picture: BBC)

Captain Jack is that pansexual time traveller who made good. From Time Agent to Torchwood, John Barrowman has always played the part with humour and style.

But is Jack also the Face of Boe? We just don’t know.

2. River Song

‘Hello sweetie.’

Only River Song knows the Doctor’s name. She’s loyal and vivacious. A child of the Tardis, River can regenerate like a Time Lord and Alex Kingston plays her most recent self.

The big question: Is the story of River Song over? There are plenty of loose ends to tie up.

1. Rose Tyler

‘Does it need to be said?’

Rose Tyler (Picture: BBC)

RTD played a blinder when he conceived the character of Rose and cast Billie Piper.

Everything she did was amazing. We all wept (twice) when she said goodbye to the Doctor on that beach (twice).